A little girl who is allergic to sunlight can now step out of the shadows in her own home. Macie Horsfall is like any other four-year-old – until the sun comes out. Macie, from Lower Kersal, has been diagnosed with a rare photosensitivity condition that affects one in 300,000 people.

A little girl who is allergic to sunlight can now step out of the shadows in her own home. Macie Horsfall is like any other four-year-old – until the sun comes out.

Macie, from Lower Kersal, has been diagnosed with a rare photosensitivity condition that affects one in 300,000 people.

Her family has lived in darkness for two years because a sunny day can lead to agony for the brave youngster as she suffers painful swelling, sore eyes and scratching even when indoors.

But now Macie, of Whit Lane, can start joining in the fun after a company, ARC Windows Film, fitted tinted amber filters to the windows at her home and school.

Mum Gaynor Barlow and dad Philip Horsfall first noticed the problem on a family holiday with sister Chloe in Turkey when Macie was just two.

She started to swell up, and would bleed from scratching her arms. Macie was diagnosed with Erythropoietic Protoporphyria (EPP) in December.

She has to wear a hat, full length cardigan and sunglasses to step outside, often misses playtime with friends, and sometimes cannot hold her mum’s hand.

Gaynor, 38, said: "She is a lovely, happy outgoing child, but when the sun comes out her whole personality changes.

"She becomes so sad, it is heartbreaking because she is in so much pain, she is so brave.

"When we were in Turkey, we thought it was an allergy to something. She had always been uncomfortable in the sun, but it took two years to get answers.

"We have been living in darkness, the blinds are always shut. We plan our life around cloudy days. Finally we are not living in darkness any more, the blinds can open and she doesn’t think the windows will hurt her and she now feels safe at school."

Macie’s best friend is her Cocker Spaniel George and she is set to start primary school in September at nearby St George’s, where her mum is a teaching assistant.